German diplomat Schmid to lead UN General Assembly
Published: Thursday, Jul 18th 2024, 07:40
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Top German diplomat Helga Schmid is to become President of the UN General Assembly in New York next year. The German government nominated the 63-year-old for the high office at the United Nations headquarters on Wednesday, the Federal Foreign Office told the German Press Agency. Since - as is usual for the post - no opposing candidates are expected, Schmid's appointment for one year from the beginning of September 2025 is considered certain.
The current Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is "one of Germany's most experienced top diplomats, has an excellent network and enjoys a high international reputation", it continued. She had steered the OSCE through the difficult past few years. Schmid was previously Secretary General of the European External Action Service in Brussels.
Milestone nuclear deal
Schmid made a name for herself with a historic deal: she played a leading role in the negotiations on the nuclear agreement with Iran, which was concluded in 2015 - and whose future has been extremely uncertain since the USA withdrew.
With Schmid, a diplomatic heavyweight would take on the role of chairperson in the 80th session of the world parliament - compared to the office of UN Secretary-General, however, this is often perceived as predominantly ceremonial. Schmid's task would be to represent the UN member states in their entirety.
She would give one of the first speeches at the annual meeting of heads of state and government at the UN General Debate. In recent years, the UN General Assembly has gained in importance as a global barometer of public opinion in the face of serious wars. However, the 15-member UN Security Council, with its ability to pass resolutions that are binding under international law, is considered to be much more powerful.
First four women as President of the General Assembly
In 2015, Schmid was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit I Class. One of her patrons, former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, appreciated the diplomatic skills and perseverance of the woman who was born in Dachau, Bavaria. In her early years, Schmid worked at the German embassy in Washington and as an advisor to Fischer's predecessor Klaus Kinkel (FDP).
According to the Federal Foreign Office, Schmid would be only the fifth woman to chair the UN General Assembly in the more than 75-year history of the United Nations. The actual election will not take place until June 2025 in the largest UN body itself. As the groups of states that are eligible for the post in the relevant years consult with each other before the nomination, Schmid is likely to have the job secured.
Reunified Germany is applying for the post for the first time. Previously, Rudiger von Wechmar was President of the UN General Assembly for the Federal Republic of Germany in 1981 and Peter Florin for the GDR in 1987.
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